< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Ruan Family Murder Case
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
After a long while, Shen Lan Chi’s heels finally quietly landed on the ground. Unknown as to when, her cheeks already dyed with a beautiful scarlet color. Her slightly trembling eyelashes were further like fluttering butterfly wings.
“Lu Qi Yang…….”
“You said you had a dream?”
While she was still hesitating over what her first words should be, Lu Qi Yang already opened his mouth first. He already wasn’t that shaken like earlier, just tightly holding her wrist, the strength of his grip causing her skin to hurt.
The little heir in front of Shen Lan Chi slightly furrowed his long brows, his two eyes staring at her as he asked again, “What kind of dream?”
She used her fingertips to gently wipe the corner of her lips, her eyes glistening as she softly said, “I’m already treating you like this, yet you’re still asking about an insignificant dream. Lu Qi Yang, you really are unromantic.”
Her voice when she spoke was light and soft, like tickling willow catkins.
Lu Qi Yang slightly blanked, revealing a somewhat annoyed look, “Where did your etiquette and upbringing all go?” He unexpectedly put away his happy-go-lucky face and started lecturing her, “Which young lady in the capital would be like you, doing this kind of…..”
“I already said, I don’t want to marry Lu Zhao Ye or Lu Zi Xiang. I just want to marry you.” Shen Lan Chi lifted her long eyelashes and directly gazed towards him. Although she was asking a question, her voice was very confident, “Me doing something like…….you don’t like it?”
——You don’t like it?
Lu Qi Yang got stumped by this question, his feet shrinking back a step.
You’re coming to provoke me again…….coming to provoke me again.” He was extremely vexed as he muttered, like seeing his foe, revealing a fierce expression. But, at this time, Shen Lan Chi nevertheless started laughing without a care in the world, the smile on her face extremely carefree.
“You’re still able to smile?” He narrowed his eyes, his hand tightly holding her chin. Afterwards, he had that troublesome little woman pushed into the corner of the wall and lowered his head, kissing her again.
“Wait….wuu…..”
Shen Lan Chi used her hands to hammer his chest, but she was unable to budge his body that was blocking in front of her in the slightest. Not only so, that person even squeezed in closer, greatly having the stance of directly having her kneaded into his arms.
She opened her mouth, wishing to speak, but what came out was merely a soft and ambiguous breathing sound.
After a long while, she slightly gasped for breath as she struggled out from Lu Qi Yang’s arms. Her hair was a bit messy. A few strands of loose black hair had scattered down, hanging by her ear, lightly swaying.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“How come you’re this mean?” She lifted the loose strands of hair behind her ear, her eyes half-lowered, her voice soft and drawn out, “Like having starved for two lifetimes and never eaten before.”
“It was you that came to provoke me.” Lu Qi Yang said.
Right at this time, footstep sounds came from around the corner. Afterwards, it was a man’s voice: “Heir, haven’t you been gone for a bit too long? Are you still coming to Brother Yang’s place later?”
Turns out, it was a noble son in fancy brocade that had gotten impatient from waiting, so came over to look for Lu Qi Yang.
Lu Qi Yang glanced behind him, knowing that he must leave now.
“Someone’s looking for me, I’ll go first.” Lu Qi Yang used his thumb to caress her cheek, his eyes slightly darkening as he said, “Now, I believe you.”
After saying this, he turned and left.
Shen Lan Chi watched his back slowly move father away. A smile gradually spread across the corners of her lips, unknown as to what she was smiling about.
She slightly tidied her appearance before finally returning to the second floor’s private room.
Ruan Bi Qiu had already finished the two tael tea in her hand. At this time, she was currently propping up her cheeks as she gazed out at the street scenery outside the window, having an extremely bored look. Hearing Shen Lan Chi return, she said, “Shen second miss has finished on that side? I’m not in a hurry, so waiting a little longer is also fine.”
Lifting her head, she saw that Shen Lan Chi’s hair bun seemingly was somewhat loose and messy. Ruan Bi Qiu was stunned.
“Shen second miss, this is…….having gotten into a fight with the heir?” She carefully asked, “How did you end up like this……”
“To have let you see something embarrassing.” Shen Lan Chi’s expression was the same as usual as she pressed her lips into a smile, “When going down the stairs, accidentally tripped, thus ended up in such a sorry state.” She called over the waiter and had the tea reheated, also saying, “I invited Miss Ruan over just for the sake of saying one thing—–just having the jade pendant isn’t enough to let Miss Ruan marry into the Eastern Palace.”
“Shen second miss means…?”
“Imperial orders are hard to defy.” Shen Lan Chi revealed a gentle smile on her face, but the bottom of her eyes weren’t smiling, “If it’s his Majesty bestowing the marriage, then this matter will be set in stone, no longer able to be escaped from.”
Ruan Bi Qiu hesitated for a moment, asking, “Shen second miss say it rather simply, but how can this be easy?”
“Easy, of course it’s easy.” Shen Lan Chi’s smile didn’t diminish, saying, “Very soon, there will be a heavenly bestowed opportunity. Just, it will depend on whether or not you can be ruthless enough. If when time comes, you really succeed, the Ruan family rising onto the clouds with you marrying into the Eastern Palace, then you better remember that you owe me a favor.”
She invited Ruan Bi Qiu here just for two things. One, it was to advise Ruan Bi Qiu, letting her act sooner. And two, it was to let Ruan Bi Qiu owe her a favor.
“Heavenly bestowed……opportunity?” Ruan Bi Qiu’s eyes slightly glistened, her mouth softly muttering.
“Precisely.” Shen Lan Chi lifted her brow and said, “I’m just going to say one thing——The roaming bandit case in the capital is being jointly handled by your father and Hejian Wang. That Hejian Wang has a very close relationship with his Majesty, his character firm and upright, but he has a bad habit……..After getting drunk, he will greatly change in temper, even hitting others.”
Ruan Bi Qiu picked up the teacup, lightly taking a sip as she silently contemplated.
The two of them stayed in Dengyun Pavilion for half a day, only leaving Dengyun Pavilion around sunset. Dengyuun Pavilion was situated in the capital’s west. The An Duke Manor was in the capital’s east. Along the way, they will also pass by the Ruan family’s residence hidden in the marketplace. Shen Lan Chi pondered for a moment before saying to Ruan Bi Qiu with a smile, “I still don’t want to go back this early, so might as well send you back along the way.”
“Send me?” Ruan Bi Qiu was somewhat surprised.
“Miss Ruan is this dignified and elegant, so when walking alone on the road, it inevitably will be somewhat dangerous.” Shen Lan Chi lingeringly stared at her face and said, “How about I walk with you?”
These words were said rather high-soundingly, but who didn’t know that it was merely an excuse. Chu’s culture and customs were rather open, so there were quite a few girls walking in the streets. Those who have servant girls following behind them, also having a horse carriage and whatnot, will certainly be young ladies from wealthy families, so who would foolishly go provoke them?
“Thanking Shen second miss for the kindness.” Towards her strange affection, Ruan Bi Qiu rather opposed, gently saying, “It’s a bit unfortunate, Hejian Wang just happened to be visiting today, so father and mother should be extremely busy, afraid unable to properly entertain Shen second miss.”
“I won’t enter your home.” Shen Lan Chi smiled, “I’ll just drop you off and leave, how about it? That way, needless for your parents to specially entertain me.”
This look of hers that was like the shameless hoodlums in the marketplace made Ruan Bi Qiu have no other way and could only agree to her words, letting her send her back home along the way.
Ruan Bi Qiu was faintly uneasy inside.
At first, she thought that this An Duke Manor’s young lady was deliberately coming to test whether or not she wanted to marry the crown prince, so as to eliminate any competition for herself. Afterwards, she thought that Shen Lan Chi fell in love with the heir, thus specially joined hands with her, so as to get rid of her marriage arrangement with Lu Zhao Ye. Now, she’s starting to worry that this Shen family young miss simply doesn’t have her intentions in the wine, and perhaps, she was just coming straight for her, Ruan Bi Qiu.
Don’t know what she has on her worth this much attention from Shen second miss?
The Ruan family came from humble origins. Although her father has entered officialdom for many years, their family situation didn’t improve by much. The Ruan manor was merely structured like an ordinary wealthy family, even appearing somewhat shabby, hidden among the tall and low houses in the surrounding. The paint on the horizontal inscription board above the gate was half-peeling, exposing the pitch dark wood inside.
Shen Lan Chi often secretly speculated that perhaps Ruan Bi Qiu’s father was carefully hiding their family wealth, while also wanting to show off having clean hands in front of others, a classic example of being honest and uncorrupted, thus would live in this shabby manor for this long.
“I’ll just send to here.” Shen Lan Chi said.
“Many thanks Shen second miss.” Ruan Bi Qiu bowed and then led along her servant girl as she headed inside the Ruan manor.
The sun tilted towards the west, the golden rays slowly setting. The alley was dead silent, not even the sound of the wind sweeping over the leaves could be heard. Just, occasionally, there was the cry of a crow, grim and mournful, producing a bit of bleakness inside.
Shen Lan Chi was just about to leave when she heard a short scream come from inside the half-opened red painted doors of the Ruan manor.
From the sound, it was Ruan Bi Qiu that screamed.
“This servant will go have a look.” Bi Yu who had a slightly pale face bravely volunteered.
“Wait, I’ll go together with you.” Shen Lan Chi lifted her skirt and quickly ran forward, “If something happens to this Ruan family girl, won’t I be done for?”
She ran in a hurry, kicking open the Ruan family’s half-shut door.
As soon as the doors spread open, the pungent stench of blood immediately hit the face.
In the courtyard that could be entirely taken in at a glance, there were three to four people randomly collapsed on the ground, don’t know whether they were dead or alive. Judging from their attire, they should be the Ruan family’s servant women and servant boys. They were all lying in a pool of blood. The dark blood directly seeped into the soil, don’t know whether the courtyard soil was originally just this dark, or because of having gotten stained by the blood.
Ruan Bi Qiu’s complexion was deathly pale, her trembling body leaning against the corner of the wall, appearing to be terrified. Seeing Shen Lan Chi come, Ruan Bi Qiu looked to her with great fear and said in a shaking voice, “Shen…….Shen second miss…….”
Afterwards, her body swayed, actually falling perfectly straight onto the ground. Turns out, she’d gotten scared to the point of fainting.
Shen Lan Chi’s palm instantly filled with sweat.
She knew what happened———In the past life, the Ruan family, because of the roaming bandits case, suffered retaliation, resulting in many casualties at home.
Just, Shen Lan Chi never expected that this matter would happen this soon. Clearly, in the past life, it wasn’t until more than a month and a half after Ruan Ying took over the roaming bandits case did the Ruan family attract the roaming bandits’ retaliation. But, this time, it clearly had only been a few days………
“M-miss!” Bi Yu has never witnessed this kind of scene before, her tighs trembling as she leaned towards Shen Lan Chi, her voice shaking non-stop, “L-let’s quickly go……go back to report to the authorities………”
Shen Lan Chi composed herself and said, “The killer perhaps still hasn’t gone far, leaving Miss Ruan here is too dangerous, so take her with us.”
——If something happens to Ruan Bi Qiu, who else will have that big of an ability to marry into the Eastern Palace?!
After saying this, she lifted her skirt, went around the unknown whether dead or alive servants on the ground, and walked towards Ruan Bi Qiu.
As she walked, she inwardly comforted herself: Isn’t it just half-dead people? She herself was already a dead person, so what’s there to be scared of?
Bending down, she pulled Ruan Bi Qiu’s arm, wanting to have her picked up. But, she was just a girl of the boudoir, her strength not enough, so could only call out in annoyance, “Bi Yu, why aren’t you coming to help out your miss?”
Shen Lan Chi waited for quite a while, but still didn’t hear Bi Yu’s reply. Just as she was puzzled, she heard heavy footsteps come from behind her. Shen Lan Chi’s ears were sharp, immediately making out that these footsteps didn’t belong to her servant girl.
She turned her head around; her heart immediately skipped a beat—–just seeing standing behind her a masked man with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, messily covered in bloodstains. A pair of eyes like copper bells were fixedly staring at her. The tip of the axe was still dripping with something thick and red drop by drop.
“You’re the Ruan family’s little lady?” The giant man spoke, his ghost-like eyes staring into her, his voice like sawing timber.
“I……..” Shen Lan Chi forced herself to speak, “I’m not. I’m the An Duke Manor Shen family’s second miss.”
That man furrowed his brows, saying on his own, “You are precisely the Ruan family’s little lady.”
After saying this, he directly walked towards Shen Lan Chi.
“You…..! If you want money, I can give you however much you want!” Shen Lan Chi staggeringly retreated a step, hurriedly pulling out the hairpin in her hair and holding it out in front. But, her hairpin was too small. In front of that axe, it appeared extremely comical.
She somewhat regretted inside.
Having been reborn, towards the events that happened in the past life, she knew like the back of her hand, so she was certain that the roaming bandits’ retaliation won’t happen at this time, yet she instead got screwed by this foresight. Who could’ve known that the matters in this lifetime would be completely different from the last lifetime?!
“Money?” That man sneered and said, “Your father severed a noble personage’s money source, so just deserved to die to begin with! To give a few thousand, a few hundred taels now, it’s all useless!”
After saying this, the man raised the axe.
Seeing that axe about to come down, Shen Lan Chi was greatly shaken inside.
Suddenly, the Ruan family’s worn-out doors got kicked open again. This time, the already very old wooden doors finally couldn’t withstand anymore, and with a loud heavy sound, it crashed onto the ground carrying broken pieces and wood shavings.
In the hazy dark colors of the night, a shadow charged in. Before Shen Lan Chi could even see his face clearly, a voice sounded by her ear, “I didn’t bring a sword with me today. Close your eyes and let me borrow your hand.”
It was Lu Qi Yang.
Not having the time to be bewildered by why he was here, she subconsciously chose to comply.
After Lu Qi Yang spoke, he restrained the man’s arm that was holding the axe with one hand, while his other hand tightly held her wrist, ruthlessly stabbing forward.
“Close your eyes.” He said again, “Don’t look.”
Don’t know how big his strength was, to actually let that axe be unable to come down in the slightest, he and that man’s arm pressed down, then lifted up again, moving an inch closer, but then moving back up again. Unexpectedly, no one was able to gain the upper hand.
Amidst the deadlock, followed by a soft ‘pfft’ sound, the thin tip of the hairpin in Shen Lan Chi’s hand directly stabbed into that man’s chest. There was a warm sensation on the back of her hand. Shen Lan Chi just felt that there was some soft and warm liquid that splashed onto her.
“You son of a b*tch!” The giant man let out a painful cry and started randomly waving the axe around.
Lu Qi Yang cleverly and swiftly dodged the man’s elbow, then cleanly struck down with his hand. With a crisp ‘kacha’ sound, that man’s arm softly fell limp.
The giant man started howling even more madly, just he although vigorously cried out, his hand was unable to hold anything and could only let that bloodstained axe crookedly land by his feet.
“Lu Qi Yang………”
Shen Lan Chi’s entire heart practically jumped out of her throat.
“Talk later.” Lu Qi Yang wasn’t flustered at all, his voice extremely calm. He took the hairpin from Shen Lan Chi’s hand and said in a low voice, “The tip of your hairpin pointed upwards. Any coroner with good eyes will be able to guess that this was stabbed by a woman. Move aside a little, I’m going to add some more cuts.”
After saying this, he half-knelt down and slightly swung his arm, having the hairpin repeatedly stabbed into the man’s chest and abdomen, his movements extremely swift, without the slightest hesitation nor delay, as if having already practiced this matter thousands of times.
Borrowing that bit of moonlight that just climbed up the treetop, Shen Lan Chi held her breath, attentively staring at his face.
She noticed that Lu Qi Yang’s expression was extremely cold.
Just like………
Just like how he looked that night she married Lu Zhao Ye.
That time, he led a squad of light calvary, standing off against Lu Zhao Ye outside the Eastern Palace. His expression was terrifyingly dark and heavy just like in this moment.
< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Discover more from Broken Jinsei
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈